Eco-villagers are preparing to be kicked out of their make-shift home at any moment after a judge ordered them to hand the site back to its legal owner.

It is unclear whether protesters at the former Scottish Widows site, by Kew Bridge, will resist the court order.

Developer and landowner, St George, was granted a “possession forthwith” order at Brentford County Court on May 7 – meaning bailiffs will evict villagers who refuse to leave the site.

About 10 eco-protesters have already relocated to a Transport for London (TfL)-owned piece of land in Hanworth Road, Hounslow, which they have named the Hounslow Community Land Project.

According to villagers Sividas and Skye Yerby, most of the site’s residents have now packed up their belongings – with some moving to Hounslow and “about half” joining anti-war demonstrators and climate change activists who have set up a protest camp in Parliament Square.

The pair agreed any eviction protest at the former Scottish Widows site would be peaceful.

Nineteen-year-old Skye, who stressed she was now committed to the Hounslow camp, said: “I for one think [St George] have been reasonable enough and it’s got to come to an end at some time.

“They are going to get the land back no matter what.”

Sividas, 34, added: “We are not squatters, we don’t want to be labelled as antagonists - we like nature and we just want to preserve it.”

The eco-villagers thought the period during which they must leave Kew Bridge would come to an end today - but St George's bailiffs have yet to appear.

A spokesman for Hounslow police said: “At the moment we are talking to both the developer and the eco-warriors, and if need be we will be there.

“We are not anticipating any problems at the moment.”

Despite repeated requests from the Hounslow and Brentford Times, St George has continually refused to comment about the eco-villagers or its plan to build 164 residential units, a fitness suite and business centre, retail and office space and a cafe or restaurant on the former Scottish Widows site, since planning permission was controversially given by Hounslow Council on February 17.

Sividas claimed his priority was transforming their new site, by Clarence Terrace, into a community resource because “it’s their space”.

He said villagers had written to TfL, which this year scrapped plans to turn the former dye works into a bus depot, to inform bosses about their plan to create raised garden beds, a pond and nature trail on the site - but had received no response.

A spokeswoman for TfL said: “We are aware that this vacant brownfield site is being illegally squatted and have instructed our lawyers to obtain a vacant possession order.

“As the site is surplus to operational requirements TfL is now in the process of bringing the site to market so that it can provide new homes and business opportunities for Londoners.”

Protesters on new site

Members of a new eco-village in Hounslow hope to work with the site’s legal land-owner to promote eco-friendly living.

Eco-protesters pitched tents on a Transport for London (TfL) owned piece of land in Hanworth Road last Wednesday and immediately began creating a community garden and experiment in self sufficient sustainable urban living.

Their plan is to make an open creative space with workshops, planting, artistic activities on offer to visitors young and old.

Thirty-four-year-old Sividas said: “I’ve got a million and one ideas but it’s just about bringing in the equipment.”

Over the coming weeks he hopes to build a central tepee, a living area and kitchen, as well as raised garden beds and ponds. Eco-villager Skye, 19, said her main aim was to set up a nature trail for the community.

Sividas plans on inviting TfL to set up a community cycling campaign and bike workshop at the site. He added: “If they want to put up an advert on the front gate I am willing to work with them for sure.”

Anyone wanting to help the eco-neighbours can do so by donating top soil, compost and wood chipping, kitchen ware, tools, wood panels and ply, loo rolls, plants, seeds and sports equipment.

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